Chapter 75

Ｒｅａｄ ​ｏｎ​ Ｋ​ａｔＲｅａｄｉ​ｎｇＣａｆｅ

**Who Are You? (1)**

My body felt a little heavy, and when I opened my eyes, an unfamiliar ceiling greeted me.

Huh? So this place is…

I tried to sit up with a groan, but my limbs felt like soggy tissues—floppy and limp—and I sighed internally.

I’ve caught a cold.

It wasn’t as bad as _that time_, but it felt similar.

Letting out a deep breath, I sprawled back out, and heat prickled at my forehead.

“You’re awake?”

“…Yeah.”

And it wasn’t just my condition that reminded me of _that time_.

Toya was sitting beside me, just like back then.

Still, I was well enough to respond, which was a relief.

If it had been as severe as when I got sick in Korea, I probably wouldn’t even be coherent.

“How’s your cough?”

“…It’s ticklish, but I’m okay.”

My voice came out hoarse and rough.

Ugh, I sound awful.

I kept my mouth shut before a coughing fit could hit me, and Toya chuckled softly at the sight.

Hearing his laughter… somehow, I felt a little better.

“You only had a slight fever, but just in case it got worse, we came to the hospital right away.”

“…I see.”

Maybe it was because of how badly I was sick in Korea, but the response this time was swift.

It really _is_ better to come to the hospital before it gets worse.

Toya’s decision had been exactly right.

If it had gotten worse like before—

_Ugh, that gave me chills._

“Yeoreum, are you okay?”

Remembering that awful pain made my body shiver. Toya, looking concerned, gently patted my head.

No, I’m not shivering because I’m in pain.

I slowly blinked to let him know I was fine, and only then did his face relax a little.

He really understands me well. All I did was blink.

“Oh, right. Inari said to tell you she’s sorry. She thinks you got sick because of her.”

“…Inari?”

…She didn’t have to apologize over that.

If there was a problem, it was clearly on _my_ end.

If she’d come over while _she_ had a cold, maybe. But she was fine, and _I_ got sick. That’s on me, not her.

Seriously, what is up with my immune system? Even after eating those apples and oranges from Ragu-sensei!

“I already posted the break notice for you.”

“…Thanks.”

“No need to thank me.”

Toya let out a soft breath and gently took my hand in his.

This was only the second time in my life I’d been taken care of while sick.

And both times, it was Toya doing the caregiving. That made me feel a little bad.

Ahh, I want to get better already.

I don’t want to be groaning over just a cold.

“Yeoreum.”

“…”

“Once you’re better, there’s someone I want to introduce you to.”

Someone to introduce me to?

I wanted to ask who, but I was too drained—my voice wouldn’t come out.

…I’ll ask after a little nap.

I remember hearing that sleep is the best medicine when you’re sick.

So—

_Just a little nap, Toya…_

“…Sleep well, Yeoreum.”

Even though I didn’t say it out loud, Toya still replied gently.

And for some reason, even though I was sick, I had a feeling I’d have a really good dream.

—

“To proceed with the surgery, we need blood—but this hospital doesn’t have a sufficient supply that matches the patient.”

“Then, what… what do we do?”

“The only option is a transfusion from a family member.”

I’d known this day would come eventually—but not today. I wasn’t ready.

Her condition hadn’t improved.

She was sleeping more and more each day.

I don’t even remember the last time I saw your bright eyes, Koyuki.

I want to see you again—smiling, whining, teasing me about how bad I am at games, just like always.

“…Thank you, Doctor.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t do more.”

We had a good doctor. But the situation was grim.

You’re in a sterile room now, and it breaks my heart every time I see you like that.

But you must’ve known. That’s why you said what you did.

A hospital room sealed behind a transparent wall, meant for one person only.

I lowered my head, thinking of Koyuki beyond that barrier.

“I’ll… figure something out.”

Is there hope?

I tried to shove aside the creeping dread in the back of my mind.

Yes. There _is_ hope. There has to be.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my pounding heart as I stepped out of the consultation room.

_Natsu, right…_

The girl who looked just like Koyuki.

From what I’d heard from Toya, she was even the same age as her.

Can I really chalk that up to coincidence?

Right before Koyuki’s surgery, I met someone who looked exactly like her.

Could it really be just a lookalike?

_Brrring…_

Before I knew it, I was dialing Toya’s number in a daze.

What was I even thinking?

As the ringtone echoed in my ear, I chuckled bitterly at myself—but I didn’t hang up.

Was it desperation, or had I lost all sense?

“I’m sorry, Toya. I know it’s sudden, but… can you come to the hospital?”

[…Ragu-sensei? What’s going on all of a sudden—]

What am I saying?

Yes, I’d shown Koyuki to Toya, but it’s not like we had enough of a connection for me to call him like this out of the blue.

The only thing connecting Koyuki and Toya is the fact that she looks just like Natsu.

That’s it.

I acted on instinct, and now my mind had gone completely blank.

No, wait. This isn’t what I meant to say—damn it.

“No, never mind. You don’t have to come. Just… no. Haaah…”

[…]

A sigh escaped me—pure frustration and self-loathing.

I need time to think.

There’s a saying: _go slow when you’re in a hurry._

Maybe stepping back to think calmly wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

I need to talk to more people. Get advice. And then—

“Sorry for calling so suddenly, Toya. I’ll tell you later. When Natsu wakes up.”

[Okay, Sensei.]

I ended the call after hearing the concern in Toya’s voice.

No matter how urgent or desperate I was… calling Toya like that was ridiculous.

Especially when I don’t even know for sure if that girl—Natsu—is Koyuki’s twin.

It just goes to show how precious Koyuki is to me.

That I’d do _anything_ for her.

“…Koyuki, what am I supposed to do?”

I still remember the first day I met you.

You were adopted, right? That’s what they said.

Honestly, I wasn’t a good person back then.

Not that I’d claim to be a good person now, either.

_“You should at least say hello.”_
_“Why should I? You went on a trip without me and came back with a random kid?”_

…No, I guess I’ve changed, at least a little.

We weren’t really family—not by blood, anyway.

It was a complicated situation, but whatever the case…

Our first impression of each other had to be one of the worst.

_If only I hadn’t met you back then…_

Maybe then I wouldn’t be hurting so much now.

But now that I think about it, I can’t even imagine a life without Koyuki.

She’s that important to me.

So here I am, back at the same place.

“I don’t want to lose Koyuki…”

I didn’t want to cry outside her hospital room—but the overwhelming sense of helplessness made it hard to hold it in.

Watching her grow weaker each day, I knew deep down that we’d have to say goodbye someday.

And I knew that day wasn’t far off.

But still—

_—When a glimmer of hope appears right in front of you, how can you not cling to it?_

I’m selfish.

I can’t let go of what I hold dear.

And Koyuki is the biggest piece of my heart.

The longer we wait, the lower the chances of the surgery succeeding.

Honestly, I want to just explain everything—or not even explain, just take Natsu and draw her blood right now.

But I can’t. No, I _won’t_.

“…I can’t do something like that to a girl who looks exactly like Koyuki.”

Because if she really _is_ Koyuki’s twin, then everything I do to her would feel like I’m doing it to Koyuki.

That’s why I don’t want to do it that way.

Yeah. I’ll explain the situation properly and ask her for help.

Natsu seems healthier than Koyuki, so maybe she can donate enough for the surgery.

At least… I hope so.

“That’s enough. There’s still hope.”

But they say the sweeter the hope, the more bitter the despair.

The next day, what I heard was—

_Natsu had been hospitalized with a cold._